Seattle Immersive Theater produced a somewhat ambitious performance that is true to their roots of immersing the audience in an interactive and participative experience. “Supraliminal” was well timed for the Halloween season, and all tickets were sold out every night.

Guests arrived at South Seattle College and were directed to a small auditorium. It took a while to adjust to the fact that the people helping, handing out waivers, and talking banter before the 7:30 start were actually already in character and acting with you. At the official start time, “class” was convened. Two actor professors and a medium gave a PowerPoint presentation and discussed the history of paranormal study, different types of paranormal activity, and a specific case that they were currently investigating at the historic Georgetown Steam Plant owned by Seattle City Light in south Seattle.

A planned class field trip to the location was “moved ahead” to tonight, and a bus was waiting for us outside. While on the road, the professor gave additional historic context about the building and what they were doing.

After arrival, a Seattle City Light employee (unknown if it was an actual employee or another actor) gave a historical tour of the Steam Plant. The tour was interesting, though a bit long for someone expecting something creepy to happen. Perhaps the anticipation was part of the buildup…

Finally we were taken into a dark cavernous section of the plant where a Command Center was set up that connected with night vision cameras set up at 9 locations around the plant. Then the fun finally began, as a ghostly girl, demon, and demonic possession quickly ramped up both on screen and in front of us.

Supraliminal is an unusual theater production, most suited to someone intrigued by the location-based experience and real time acting of a story from beginning to end. At over 2.5 hours, it was a bit long but was still educational and fun. I was hoping that there would have at least been little “clues” and weird experiences along the way at the steam plant to build up the haunted experience, but one needs to wait for near the end until it gets rolling beyond the historical context. Kudos to the crew on the final scenes, including an unexpected and well done finale. When you think it is all over, it’s not quite really all over.

Seattle Immersive Theater waiver release form

Due to walking around in the old very non-OSHA-approved steam plant in the dark, there were two liability waivers that had to be signed before participating in the performance



Seattle Immersive Theater Supraliminal at Georgetown Steam Plant group tour

Class entered the steam plant, by the massive electric power turbines



Georgetown Steam Plant Seattle tour

Catwalks and passages where we walked through the plant



Georgetown Steam Plant Seattle tour power turbine and crane

Horizontal steam electric production turbine and overhead crane



Georgetown Steam Plant Seattle Immersive Theater Supraliminal group enters dark fueling area

Class entered the dark and cavernous fueling area, where we found the Command Center and finale



Links:
Supraliminal video trailer
Georgetown Steam Plant
South Seattle College